Taking a stroll around Charleston’s famous Historic District during holidays in South Carolina, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were on a movie set. One of the best-preserved cities in the South, Charleston, at first glance, resembles a painting from the 19th century, brought to life. Its low skyline is punctuated by numerous church steeples, while horse-drawn carriages by pass centuries-old town houses and mansions, their stately salons a showcase of crystals, parquet flooring and Southern comfort.
Outside, gardens filled with magnolias brim with heirloom plants carefully tended. In contrast, there’s the only existing slave market building in the state with a museum that recounts the life stories of the Africans who were traded through the market. Charleston is also home to Fort Sumner the starting point of the Civil War. Although its locals dwell in the past in many ways, Charleston is a very modern town. Its internationally acclaimed Spoleto Festival USA is a showcase of international concerts, dance performances, plays and operas. Diners can enjoy upscale restaurants while art lovers peruse museum-quality antiques and paintings. Outdoor enthusiasts on a United States tour are not left out either as they can explore the outlying beaches, waterways and parks. But the scattering of farm-boiled peanut stands are proof that the South continues to reside in cosmopolitan Charleston.
